"Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth: much more the wicked and the sinner." Proverbs 11:31

This passage deals with the idea of recompence, which we might understand better by the term reward or payment. God is fair and equitable in His dealings with men. We receive from Him what is just. This is both a sobering and exhilarating thought. All men, whether righteous or wicked, will receive just rewards from God. Christ’s just payment for sin insures that the righteous will receive an everlasting inheritance of grace. Those not found in Christ will receive the everlasting recompense of God’s wrath. But this verse also explains that the righteous will be recompensed in the earth. This includes both the obvious blessings we enjoy, and the painful chastisement we endure. Our actions then always bring a result. They always have consequences that we will directly bear. The blessings we receive do come from grace, but they come from a gracious God who promises to reward those who seek Him. Our chastisement also comes from a God of grace, a God who is gracious enough to inflict pain on sinful pursuits. We cannot live any way we want and expect the grace of God to remove any consequence. God will recompense. This verse begins with the word "Behold." This word is meant to draw our attention to the importance of the message. Therefore, we must realize that God means what He says here. Actions have consequences.